Richard “Rick” Alan Isserman (70) of Pembroke Pines, Florida, formerly from St. Louis, died in his home peacefully on February 2nd after a two-year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He was born on February 1st, 1954 in St. Louis to Ferd Isserman and Marilyn Isserman Morris. He grew up in the city of Highland Park, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois-Champagne/Urbana, where he was the Track Manager under Gary Wieneke until his graduation. For 40 years he was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America serving as Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Commissioner at various points in his life. He even won the 360th Bronze Hornaday Award.
He met Carla (Wilson) Isserman and married her in 1982 in a Jewish ceremony at Temple Israel. They had two beautiful children, Sam (Christine) Isserman and Becky (Brith) Isserman Gaudet, despite being told that a bout of Testicular Cancer would not allow it to happen.
He spent most of his life after college serving the community through social action committees, at Central Reform Congregation, Holy Grounds, and Temple Israel. Additionally, when he saw that the St. Louis County Council would not allow the Muslim Community in South St. Louis County to rezone a piece of land to build a Mosque and Community Center for Bosnian Refugees, he and his friend Khalid Shah spearheaded the movement to overturn the petition. For 20 years, he spoke on behalf of the Isserman Family at the Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman Lecture and Annual Award Series at Washington University for the student chosen that year who had made a significant contribution in leadership and service to ecumenical or interfaith activities on campus.
For over 20 years he worked for the USDA and retired as an Assistant Supervisor assisting Rural Homeowners receive loans. In 2013, he was presented with The Presidential Award for over 100 hours of Community Service by the Undersecretary of the USDA. He went on to win the same award the next year too. He went to Washington DC on multiple occasions to lobby for USDA workers’ rights representing the USDA AFGE Union to Representatives like Kit Bond and William Lacy Clay.
He leaves behind his mother, Marilyn Isserman Morris, his loving wife and two children plus his sisters Kathi Miller and Nancy Isserman. His grandson Lucas Gaudet and his nieces and nephews, Rachel (Yoni) Horwitz Levinson, Nechama (Avi) Horwitz Bass, Gavi (Rachel) Horwitz, and Michael (Aviva) Horwitz plus many great nieces and nephews and friends.
The service will be Tuesday, February, 6th at 10:00 am at Rosehill Cemetery 5800 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660. Shiva will be held immediately after at the chapel at the cemetery on Tuesday and thereafter at his mother’s home (for specific dates and times please contact Rebecca Gaudet at [email protected] for more details).
The family asks that any donations be made to the Isserman Award Series at:
Washington University in St. Louis
University Advancement
MSC 1202-414-3100
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Or
https://wustl.advancementform.com/campaign/gifts-wustl-edu/give?sc=GA
1. In the first drop down menu, click “WashU Student Experience”
2. The second drop down menu is not required
3. Under red box, there it says “I prefer to enter my own designation,” donors may write “Isserman Prize Fund”
